Coin sorting device



March 22, 1966 H. B. NIELSEN G01N soRTING DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed OC'L. 26 1964 FATF NVV ACF N'T' March 22, 1966 H. B. NIELSEN 3,241,645

G01N soRTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 26, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 VEN TOR FTF-g... 4'

PATENT AGENT March 22, 1966 H. B. Nlr-:LSEN 3,241,645

COIN SORTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 26, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 s G s o \\\\1\\\\\\ l Q d n a 'd S l n o g N e waxy A l v H y A. a r d gg s mm 111111111111113 l g\ \,\\I\\ l5] 'IIIIIIIIII l' 7% f L PATENT AGENT March 22, 1966 H. B. NIELSEN COIN SORTING DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 25, 1964 IA'VEN'I' AGENT March 22, 1966 H. B. NIELSEN COIN SORTING DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 26. 1964 WNNL N www @NNN March 22, 1966 H. B. NlELsr-:N

COIN SORTING DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 26 1964 March 22, 1966 H. B. NIELSEN COIN SORTING DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Oct. 26, 1964 March 22, 1966 H. B. Nu-:LsEN

COIN SORTING DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed OCT.. 26, 1964 FATF NT AGF NT March 22, 1966 H. B. NlELsEN COIN SORTING DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Oct. 26. 1964 United States Patent 3,241,645 COIN SRTHNG DEVCE Helmer ll. Nielsen, l2. Ellen St., P20. Box 760, Streetsville, Ontario, Canada Filed Oct. 26, i964, Ser. No. 406,250 22 Claims. (Cl. 19d-9) This invention relates to a coin sorting device, particularly of the type which is utilized in substantially unattended machines designed to vend goods and services.

Since the time coin vending machines were first introduced, the problem of persons utilizing spurious coins to deceive the machine has existed. Moreover, the seriousness of the problem has continuously increased as the number of vending machines has increased, as the value of goods being vended has increased, and as coin changing units have been increasingly included in the machines. There has always been available to the public spurious coins, such as washers and circular slugs from metal stampings, which have some characteristics making them similar to a coin of a particular denomination. The manufacturers and users of coin vending machines have found it necessary to continually watch for frequent occurrence in their machines of a certain type of spurious coin, and when coming across it, setting about to design a feature in their machines for detection of the spurious coin of that certain type for rejection.

As a result of continually adding features, the coin sorting devices now utilized are extremely complex and include a vast number of parts. Most sorting devices now utilized include, for example, means for feeling the surface of coins in search of holes so as to be able to detect washers, which are readily available to the entire public, the feeling means being separate from other means for detecting spurious coins having a smaller diameter or considerably lighter Weight than the authentic coin for a particular passageway. With each means for detecting a coin not having proper characteristics, it is also necessary to provide means for directing the detected coin out of the authentic coin passageway.

Moreover, all of the features designed to date to carry out certain functions have not provided completely satisfactory protection to the coin vending industry. The above-mentioned coin feeling means, for example, is frequently deceived by one placing tape over the hole at both faces of a washer.

To increase the rejection eciency of sorting devices, a majority of the devices now include magnets, which are placed adjacent each coin passageway, for completely stopping highly magnetic spurious coins, such as steel slugs, and for effecting the speed of the coin so that, for example, the different trajectories of bounce from an anvil following the magnet can be utilized for directing the coins into different chutes. The magnet has not proved, however, to be a cure-all, A sorting device equipped with magnets must also be provided with a relatively complex mechanism for clearing strongly magnetic spurious coins from the passageway and into a coin reject chute. Since some authentic coins, such as a Canadian nickel, are highly magnetic, a magnet cannot be utilized in a nickel passageway as a defense against a simple steel slug. Moreover, the properties of copper and bronze being similar to the properties of silver, the

Patented Mar. 22, 1966 magnet is not effective in sorting spurious coins of these materials from authentic coins of silver, such as Canadian and United States dimes and quarters.

The problem of etlicient sorting of coins in vending machines is made more acute due to the fact certain parties have found it profitable to mass produce spurious coins in a form which they know will be acceptable in vending machines, such as a steel slug of the same diameter as a Canadian nickel and of substantially the same thickness or a copper slug closely resembling a quarter, and to use directly or sell them to the public for use in pay telephones, machines designed to dispense change, etc.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin sorting device of simple construction.

According to the device of the present invention there is preferably provided wall members defining a coin passageway for edgewise travel of coins therethrough, Weighing means in the passageway arranged to permit a coin weighing more than a predetermined amount to travel past the weighing means, and a coin thickness measuring means in the passageway arranged to measure the thickness of the coin within the rim of the coin and permit passage only of coins having a measured thickness less than a preselected magnitude.

The device of the present invention takes advantage of the fact that authentic coinage consists of a body portion which is embossed and surrounded by a rim, the body portion of the coin being thin and usually thinnest, at a small annular section immediately within the rim. Due to the additional metal in the rim extending axially outward from the body and the protuberances of embossing, an authentic coin has a greater weight than an unembossed spurious coin of the same diameter, which spurious coin or slug has a constant thickness equal to the minimum body thickness of an authentic coin adjacent the rim. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, a slug having a constant thickness equal to or less than the minimum thickness of the authentic coin, will not have suicient weight to pass the weighing means as an authentic coin, unless, of course, the slug is formed of a material of considerably higher density than the authentic coin, and, as is described later, this latter point does not normally present a problem. If, on the other hand, the slug has a constant thickness which is greater than the minimum body thickness of the authentic coin so as to compensate for the weight of the material in the rim and protuberances of the embossing and thereby be accepted by weight, the constant thickness being greater than the minimum coin body thickness of the authentic coin results in rejection of the slug by the thickness measuring means.

Various novel features of the present invention together with the advantages thereof will be apparent from the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention by way of example, and from the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

FIGURE l is an enlarged cross-sectional view through a typical authentic coin;

FIGURE 2 is a front cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the device of the present invention as viewed from the line II-ll of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the same J embodiment of the device shown in FIGURE 2 taken along the line III- III of FIGURES 2 and 4;

FIGURE 4 is a back cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the device shown in FIGURE 2 taken along the line IV-IV of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing the device in fa spurious coin disposal position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross-section View of the thickness measure means of the present invention as viewed from the line VI--VI of FIGURE 4, showing an authentic coin approaching the means;

FIGURES 7 and 8 are views similar to FIGURE 6, but showing the authentic coin passingy the thickness measuring means at two later stages;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 6, but showing a spurious coin or slug approaching the coin measuring means;

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9, but showing the slug jammed in the coin thickness measuring means;

FIGURE 11 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 6, of an alternative embodiment of the coin :thickness measuring means of the present invention;

FIGURES 12 to 14 are views similar to FIGURE 11 showing sequential stages of an authentic coin passing through the coin thickness measuring means of FIG- URE 11;

FIGURE 15 is a View similar to FIGURE 11, but showing a slug jammed in the coin thickness measuring means;

FIGURE 16 is a front elevational view of a device forming an alternative embodiment according to the present invention;

FIGURE 17 is an end elevational view of the device shown in FIGURE 16 as viewed from the right hand side of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 18 is a top view of the device shown in FIG- URE 16;

FIGURE 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIX-XIX of FIGURE 16, but with certain parts removed for ythe sake of clarity;

FIGURE 2O is a view similar to FIGURE 19, but enl-arged and with additional cooperating parts;

FIGURES 2l to 23 are cross-sectional Niews taken along lines XXI-XXI, XXII--XXIL and XXIII- XXIII, respectively, in FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 24 is a back view of the lower portion of the device shown in FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 25 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line XXV- XXV of FIGURE 24;

FIGURE 26 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuits utilized in the device shown in FIGURE 24;

FIGURE 27 is a front elevational view and is an alternative construction of the upper portion of the device shown in FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 28 is a back elevational view of the construction shown in FIGURE 27;

FIGURE 29 is a sectional view taken along the line XXIX-XXIX of FIGURE 27;

FIGURE 30 which appears on the same sheet of drawings as FIGURE 27, is a sectional view taken along the line XXX-XXX of FIGURE 27; and

FIGURE 31, which appears on the same sheet of drawings as FIGURE 27, is a sectional lview along the line XXXL-XXXI of FIGURE 24.

In FIGURE 1, the reference character C denotes a typical authentic coin in cross-section. The coin C has an overall diameter of d and consists of a main body portion B surrounded by a rim R, the rim R having an axial thickness a and a radial thickness r. The body portion B has a minimum thickness b at an annular section immediately within the rim R. The centre part of body portion B is thicker than thickness b due to the protuberan'ces of embossing e, e on opposite taces of the coin. The protuberances of the embossing normally do not project axially outward from the body portion to the same extent as the rim. It can be readily seen than an authentic rimmed coin embossed as shown contains a greater volume of metal than a flat spurious coin or slug of the same diameter and of a constant thickness equal to b, the volume being greater, in tact, by an amount equal to the volume of metal in the protuberances e, e and the rim projecting axially outward from the lines b', b".

In FIGURES 2 to 5 the reference character 30 denotes generally the frame of a coin sorting device according to the present invention. The frame 30 includes in the main a back wall member 31, a Wall member 32 pivotally connected at its upper edge to back wall member 31, and a removable front cover member 33 which cooperates with back wall member 31 to enclose wall member 32. The pair of wall members 31, 32 have opposed inner side surfaces 34, 35, respectively, which define therebetween a passageway 36 for edgewise travel of coins therethrough (see FIGURE 3). Arranged in passageway 36 are coin thickness measuring means 37 and coin weighing means 40 (see particularly FIGURES 2 and 4).

Back wall member 31 has forwardly projecting side wall portions 41, 41 along opposite side edges thereof, and a peaked upper Wall portion 42 projects forwardly `from the upper edge thereof (see FIGURE 2). rFhe wall member 32 is pivotally connected to back wall member 311, by horizontally aligned pins 43, 43 passing through side wall portions 41, 41 and lugs 44, 44 formed onand projecting upwardly from the upper edge of wall member 32.

The front cover member 33 includes a lower vertical plate portion 45, an upper vertical plate portion 46, and a horizontal portion 47 joining portions 45 and 46, upper plate portion 46 being closer to back wall member 31 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5. An upwardly projecting lug 50 4is fixed to surface 35 of wall member 32. A coil spring 511 is seated in a recess 52 in the outside surface of and is compressed between wall member 32 and lower plate portions 45. Due to the fact coil spring 51 is under compression, lug 50 normally engages the inner side of upper plate portion 46. With lug 50 in engagement with upper plate portion 46, the inner surfaces 34 and 35 are held parallel and properly spaced for delining the passageway 36.

Adjacent flug 50, upper plate portion 46 is provided with a circular opening 53 which slidably receives a reject plunger 5'4. 'Fhe inner end of plunger 54 bears against lug 50, and ythe plunger is prevented from escaping outwardly from Opening 53 by a shoulder 55 at its inner end normally being received in recess 56 surrounding opening 53. Depression of plunger 54 from outside of front cover member 33 forces the wall member 32 to further compress coil spring 51 and move to a spurious coin disposal position spaced from back wall member 31 as shown in FIGURE 5.

The device being designed to accept coins of only one selected denomination is provided with a circular opening 60 substantially at the centre of upper plate portion 46 of a diameter large enough to permit axial insertion only of coins having exactly the same or smaller diameter as the selected denomination. A ramp 61 projects forwardly from back wall member 31 into thespace below opening 60 and slants downwardly at a slight incline towards the area 'between wall members 31 and 32 containing the coin thickness measuring means (see FIGURE 2). The ramp 61 has a lower end 62 which is spaced from side wall portion 41 a distance greater than the diameter of the coin so a coin rolling down ramp 61 falls vertically into the coin measuring means 37.

The coin measuring means 37 includes a screw member 64 threaded into a threaded opening 65 in the back wall member 31 (see FIGURE 6). The screw member 64 has a slotted outer end 66 and a pointed inner end 67 deiining a reference point spaced in the passageway 36 from the inner surface 34 of back wall member 31 and at substantially the centre of the path of travel of the coin. The wall member 32 has an opening 68 therein opposite t-o inner end of the screw member 64, and rotatably mounted on a horizontal pin 7b extending across the opening 68 is a pawl member 71 which is aligned with the screw member 64. The pin 70 is directly opposite screw member 64 so that pawl member 71 is mounted to pivot about an axis 69 parallel to the side surfaces 34 and 35 and on the same horizontal plane as the pointed inner end 67 of screw member 64. The pawl member 71 is weighted outwardly of pin 70 so that it is biased to a rest position with its lower edge engaging the lower edge of the -opening 68 as shown in FIGURE 6. The pawl member 71 is provided with a coin engaging ledge 72 which extends into the passageway 36 at a height equal to or slightly greater than the inner end 67 of screw member 64 when the pawl is in the rest position. The ledge 72 is arranged to be engaged by the forward edge of a coin falling down from ramp 61. The ledge 72 extends a distance from the axis 69 of rotation of the pawl so that the ledge swings closely past inner end 67 and a coin cannot pass between the ledge 72 and the inner end 67, i.e., ledge 72 extends from the axis a distance which is greater than the distance between the inner end 67 and the axis 69 minus the axial rim t-hickness a of the authenti-c coin. The pawl member 71 is preferably weighted only suiiiciently to maintain it in the rest position shown in FIGURE 6 so that engagement of the forward edge of a coin passing downwardly in the passageway with ledge 72 rotates the pawl 71 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 6 towards a coin passing position shown in FIGURE 8. Above the ledge 72 a distance a few thousands of an inch greater than the radial rim thickness r of an authentic coin in the denomination for which the devi-ce is adapted, the pawl is provided with a pointed projection or prominence 73. The prominence 73 extends outwardly from the axis 69 of pivot of the pawl a distance greater than the distance :between the inner end 67 and the aXis 69 minus the radial rim thickness r and a distance less than the distance between the inner end 67 and axis 69 minus the body thickness b. Accordingly, as pawl 71 rotates towards the coin passing position the outer end of the prominence 73 passes the inner end 67 of screw member 64 at a distance which is only sli-ghtly greater than body thickness b.

The coin weighing means 40 includes a ramp member 75 located in passageway 36 bel-ow the thickness measuring means 37. The ramp member 75 is rotatably mounted on a pin 76 fixed to a wall member 32 so that the ramp member 75 can pivot from a `rest position (see full line in FIGURE 4) to a coin passing position (see broken line in FIGURE 4) about a horizontal axis extending perpendicular to slanted upper surface '77 of the ramp member 75. The ramp member 75 is arranged so that a coin dropping through the thickness measuring means will engage the upper end of the ramp member 75, roll down the upper surface 77, and be stopped at lower end 78 of the ramp member 75, by a stop member 80 formed on surface 34 4of wall member 32 (see particularly FIG- URES 2 and 4). The stop mem'ber Si) is sufficiently spaced outwardly from the lower end 78 that the coin will rest on the very outer portion of the lower end 76 when stopped by the stop member 80. The ramp member 75 is weighted so that it is normally biased to the rest position with its lower edge engagin-g a stop 81, ibut will tilt to the coin passing position when a coin having at least the weight of the authentic coin is stopped on the lower end '78. Because the portion of the stop 80 which is engaged -by the stop coin is above and spaced outwardly from the lower end 78 of the ramp 75 in the direction of the travel of the coin along the ramp (as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 4), a worn authentic coin can roll a little farther out on the lower end 78 due to its slightly :smaller diam eter to thereby give it a heavier weighing effect and compensate to some extent for its lighter weight. In the coin passing position the ramp is tilted so that the lower end 78 is low enou-gh t-o permit -passage of a coin between lower end 7 8 and stop member Sil.

Another ramp 82 is provided below ramp member 75, the ramp 32 being formed on wall member 32 and slanting in a direction opposite to ramp member 75. Ramp 82 is provided with an authentic coin passing slot 83 (see particularly FIGURE 4) which is so located that coins passed by the tilting of ramp member 75 will pass through the slot. As can ibest be seen in FIGURES 3 and 5, the ramp 82 has considerable width, and a chamber 84 is provided in a projection 35 on the back of back wall member 31 for partially accommodating ramp 82 when wall member 32 is in its normal position. When wall member 32 is in the spurious coin disposal position, the ramp 82 bridges the gap between the lower end of wall member 32 and back wall member 31 below the lower end of ramp member 75 as can best be seen in FIGURE 4.

Wall member 32 is provided with an elongated opening `37 -above ramp member 75. A spurious coin engaging member in the form of an elongated plate 88 is secured to cover member 33 and extends into opening 87, Thus, as wall member 32 is swung to the spurious coin disposal position, the inner edge of plate 88 projects into the space above ramp member 75 (see FIGURE 5) and pushes any coins stopped on ramp member 75 from the upper surface 77.

In operation, a coin having been pushed axially through opening 6i) drops from position Ca, shown in FIGURE 2, to ramp 61, rolls down ramp 61, and falls vertically towards the thickness measuring means 37, as shown at Cb in FIGURES 2, 4 and 6. The rim of the of the coin at the forward edge of the vertically falling coin engages ledge 72, and the pawl member 71 under the weight of the coin pivots to the coin testing position (see FIGURE 7). As the pawl member 71 pivots, prominence 73 swings on an arc to a testing position exactly opposite the inner pointed end 67 of the screw member 64 at the instant the body portion of the coin immediately within the rim is therebetween as shown at Cd in FIGURE 7. Since at that instant the end 67 and prominence 73 are spaced a distance slightly greater, such as a couple of thousandths of an inch, then thickness b, with an authentic coin or a slug having a thickness equal Ato or less than b, the pawl member 71 continues to pivot to its coin passing position, and the coin is permitted to continue to fall vertically as shown at Ce in FIGURE 8.

If a spurious coin or slug is inserted in the device, it takes, of course, the same path to the thickness measuring device 37 and engages the ledge 72 as shown at Sa in FIGURE 9. As described before, the weight on ledge 72 causes pawl member 71 to pivot towards the coin passing position. However, if the slug is of a constant thickness greater than b, prominence 73 engages the slug at a short distance from its forward edge, and its own weight causes it to be pinched between prominence 73 and inner end 67 of screw member 64, as shown at Sb in FIGURE 10. Thus, the slug of greater thickness becomes bound in the thickness measuring means with its lower edge resting on ledge 72 and its body portion immediately within the rim pinched between inner end 67 and prominence 73.

The only way the bound slug can be freed is by depressing plunger 54 which swings wall member 32 in the direction of arrow 90 in FIGURE 10 to the spurious coin disposal position shown in FIGURE 5. The slug then falls vertically past the upper end of ramp member 75 and from the bottom of the right hand side of the device as viewed in FIGURE 2. The coins falling from the right hand side of the device are preferably directed to a return chute or similar means not shown.

If the coin passes the thickness measuring means 37 because it is authentic or is of less thickness than b, it falls to the upper end of ramp member 75, as shown at Cf in FIGURES 2 and 4, rolls down the upper surface 77, and is stopped at the extreme lower end 78 by stop member S0, as shown at Cg in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. If the coin at Cg weighs at least as much as an authentic coin of the selected denomination, the ramp member 75 tilts, and permits the coin to pass through slot 83 in ramp 82. The coins passing through slot 83 fall from the left hand side of the device as shown at C/z in FIGURE 2 and are preferably collected by a coin acceptance chute or similar means not shown.

If the coin stopped at the lower end 78 is not heavy enough to tilt ramp member 75, it remains in that position until plunger 54 is depressed. As wall member 32 swings to the spurious coin disposal position shown in FIGURE 5, plate 88, projecting through opening 87, engages the light spurious coin or slug and pushes it from the ramp as shown at Sc in FIGURE 5. The spurious coin or slug then falls to the ramp 82, rolls back to the right side of the device as viewed in FIGURE 2, and falls from the bottom as described in connection with the slug rejected by the thickness measuring means 37.

Thus, it can be seen that unless a coin inserted into the device has a thickness in the annular region neighbouring the edge equal to or less than the thickness b of an authentic coin of the selected denomination, it cannot pass the thickness measuring means 37, and unless it is at least as heavy as the weight of the authentic coin, it cannot pass the weighing means 40. Accordingly, if a spurious coin is thin enough in the required region to pass thickness measuring means 37, it must have some characteristic to compensate for the additional weight of an authentic coin provided by the rim and embossing. To compensate, the spurious coin could also have some type of embossing. However, generally no slugs having embossing are readily available to the public and to date it has been unnecessary, and will be in most instances unprotable, for producers of slugs to manufacture an embossed slug. Due to the fact the opening 60 will not accept coins of a larger diameter than the authentic coin, a slug having a constant thickness equal to or less than the thickness b of an authentic coin cannot compensate for the weight diierential by a greater diameter. The alternative of utilizing metal of higher density than that utilized in the authentic coin also is not practicable due to the type of metal utilized in governmental coinage. For example, Canadian and United States quarters and dimes are formed of silver having a specific gravity of about 10.5 which is higher than the specic gravity of any other sheet material readily available for economical productions of slugs. As indicated previously, copper is used in making slugs of the quarter and dirne size. However, the fact copper has a specic gravity of less than 9, assists the device of the present invention in distinguishing copper slugs from coins formed of silver. As another example, Canadian nickels are formed of nickel, and as a result, magnets cannot be utilized in sorting out steel slugs, steel being the only metal which can protably be used to make nickel slugs. However, nickel has a higher specific gravity than steel, and again, this fact assists the device of the present invention.

As described above, screw member 64 is threaded into openings 65 so that the inner end 67 can be justed towards and away from the axis 69 to thereby vary the spacing of the inner end 67 and prominence 73 as pawl member 71 pivots from its rest to the coin passing position. This feature eliminates the necessity of close manufacturing tolerances and makes it possible to compensate for wear during usage.

Tests have shown that the thickness measuring means 37 of the type described above can easily be adjusted to detect and stop a slug which is a one or two thousandths of an inch thicker than an authentic coin. However, it is believed that it would not be generally necessary to maintain such as a fine setting due to the fact metals rolled to standard gauge deviate quite drastically from the thickness b of governmental coinage, and again it would probably be uneconomical to obtain specifically rolled steel in an attempt to produce coins for deceiving a device not set up finely. For example, the thickness b of a Canadian nickel is approximately .058" while standard gauges 16 and 17 of rolled steel are .054 and .062" thick, respectively.

Washers do not present a problem with the device of the present invention, of course, since if a washer passes the thickness measuring means 37, it would be far too light, not having any material at its centre, to tip the ramp member 75. Obviously, coins of a smaller diameter would also fail to tip ramp member 75.

In order to further simplify the construction of the device shown in FIGURES 2 to 10, the pawl member 71 could be sufficiently weighted or otherwise biased so that it would not tilt from its rest position (FIGURE 6) towards the coin testing position (FIGURE 7) and coin passing position (FIGURE 8) unless the coin engaging ledge 72 is substantially the weight of an authentic coin. With this kind of a modification, the pawl member 71 could perform the weighing step as well as the thickness measuring step so that weighing means 40, which have been described above, could be omitted. By not utilizing a separate weighing means, the device could be made of simpler construction and much more compact, but it is believed that this could not be done without sacrificing much of the eiciency which has been obtainable with the device constructed in accordance with the above description.

Referring now to FIGURES 11 to 15, which shows an alternative embodiment of the thickness measuring means 37, reference characters 31a and 32a denote wall members corresponding to wall members 31 and 32 of the embodiment -described above. A screw member 64a which is adjustably received in threaded opening 65a in wall member 31a has a pointed inner end 67a projecting into passageway 36a and a slotted outer end 66a.

A second screw member 100, which may be identical to screw member 64a, is received in opening 101 in wall member 32a and has a pointed inner end 102 projecting into passageway 36a. Screw member 100 is slightly above screw members 64a so that the pointed inner ends of the prominences on the inner sur-faces of the wall members provi-ded by the inner ends 67a and 102 are vertically separated by a distance of only slightly more than the radial lthickness r of an authentic coin. The inner ends 67a and 102 are, however, on the same vertical plane, which bisects the path of travel of the coin, and the inner ends 67a and 102 are horizontally separated when the wall members 31a, 32a are in their normal positions a distance which is less than the axial rim thickness a of an authentic coin and which is greater than the rim thickness a minus one-half the diierence between rim thickness a and the minimum body thickness b.

A third screw member 103 is adjustably received in an opening 104 above screw member 64a and has a pointed inner end 105 providing a prominence in the passageway vertically above inner end 67a. The spacing of the inner ends 67a and 105 is slightly less than the diameter of the authentic coin minus approximately the radial rim thickness r.

When an authentic coin falls vertically into the passageway 36a, the rim at its forward edge first engages the inner end of screw member as shown at Cz' in FIGURE 1l. The rim then slides off screw member 100 and engages the inner end of screw member 64a as shown at Cj in FIGURE l2. The rim then slides down towards the point of the inner end of screw member 100. Due -to the slat on the inner end of the screw member, the body of the coin within the rim is shifted towards the inner end of screw member 100 and the rim moves under the inner end of screw member 100 as shown at Ck in FIGURE 13. Due to the fact the horizontal spacing of the pointed inner ends of screw members 64a and- 100 is slightly greater than axial rim thickness a minus one-half the difference between axial rim thickness a and body thickness b, the rim frees the inner end of screw member 64a just as the inner end of screw member 100 engages the coin body immediately within the rim. The coin can then continue to pass downwardly between the screw members 64a and 100 as shown at Cl in FIGURE 14.

A slug having a constant thickness equal to the axial rim thickness a of the authentic coin also engages screw member 11MB first and then falls to screw member 64a. However, due to the fact the inner ends of screw members 64a and 1011 are horizontally spaced. a distance less than the axial rirn thickness a, the inner end of screw member 100 engages the side of the slug before the forward edge of the slug clears the inner end of screw member 64a, and accordingly, the travel of the slug is blocked as shown at Sd in FIGURE 15. The engagement of the slug near its upper or rear edge with screw member 103 prevents the slug from slanting towards wall member 31a and thereby effectively increasing the spacing of the inner ends of the lower screw members 64a and 100.

Although t-he construction of the embodiment of the coin thickness measuring means shown in FIGURES 11 to 15 is somewhat simpler than the previously described embodiment, it can be seen that it is not as efficient since it, in effect, only takes advantage of one-half of the total difference between the axial rim thickness and the minimum body thickness b.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 16 to 26, the reference character 110 denotes an upper portion of the device which functions to weigh coins of three separate denominations in a manner very similar to the operation of weighing of means 40 in the previously described embodiment. A lower portion 111 is fixed to the upper portion 110 and its designed to reject coins having thicknesses exceeding predetermined magnitudes and thereby carry out a function similar to means 37 of the previously described embodiment `of the invention. For the sake of clarity, the device will be described in connection with sorting of quarters, dimes, and nickels, it being obvious that the device will function equally as well with coins of any domination and also any number of denominations with appropriate design changes.

The device as shown in FIGURES 16 to 26 is designed to be enclosed within the casing of a vending or change making machine, which machine is preferably provided with three openings, namely a quarter opening, a dime opening and a nickel opening, similar to opening 611, above the device, each opening being large enough to receive a coin having a diameter no larger than the diameter of a coin of the appropriate denomination, and each opening being provided with chute means for directing the coins to the appropriate passageways in the device.

The upper portion 110 comprises three pairs of xed wall members, each pair having opposed inner side surfaces defining a passageway, whereby three separate passageways 112q, 11211, 1121i are provided for edgewise travel of quarters, nickels, land dimes respectively therethrough (see particularly FIGURES 16 and 18). The passageways 11211, 11211, and 1120? are on parallel vertical planes and are horizontal spaced and overlap, as viewed from the front of the device, to an extent for sake of compactness. The entrances of the three passage- Ways are spaced in the upper edge of the device as can best be seen in FIGURE 18 for receiving the coins from the chute means mentioned above. The passageways 112g, 11211, 1121i include coin descending areas immediately below the entrances, which areas terminate at the upper end of ramp members g, 11511, 115d in the passageways. The ramp members are similar in structure to the ramp member 75, ramp members 115g, 11511, 11Sd each being weighted, of course, to tilt to a coin passing position, such as shown in broken lines in the case of ramp member 115d (FIGURE 16), only when a coin having at least the weight of a quarter, nickle an-d dime is stopped on the lower endthereof by stops 11611, 11611, 11602, respectively.

The front wall member of each of the three pairs of fixed wall members defining the passageways is provided with an opening adjacent the lower end of the ramp member, opening 117q, being large enough for a quarter to pass axially therethrough, opening 11711` being large enough for a nickel to pass therethrough, and opening 117d being large enough for a dime to pass therethrough. Secondary wall members 11811, 11811, 11811, which are pivotally connected to the fixed wall members by a hori- Zontal pin 119 above the openings, hang in openings 117g, 11711, 1171!, respectively, in the same vertical plane as the front wall member of each pair of fixed wall members. The secondary wall members 118g, 11811, 11811 are each provided with an inwardly and downwardly depending lug 120 which defines therewith a coin receiving bifurcated configuration straddling the passageway above the lower end of the ramp member as can best be seen in FIGURES 19 and 20. The back wall member of each of the three pairs of fixed wall members defining the passageways is provided with an opening opposite the opening in the front wall member for containing lug 121) of each bifurcated configuration so that the passageway above each ramp member is clear.

Lever members 121q, 12111, 12161, are pivotally connected to the back wall member of the three pairs of fixed walls forming passageways 112g, 11211, 112d, respectively. The constructions of the three lever members 12111, 12111, 1211i are the same, each functioning to provide a selfclearing effect for its associated passageway, and only 12111! will be described with particular reference to FiG- URE 20. The lever member 1211i is pivotally connected to the back Wall of the pair of fixed Walls forming passage- Way 11211' at approximately its midpoint by a bracket 122 and pin 123 so that it can pivot about an axis which is in a plane parallel to the passageway 11211. The upper end 1241 of the lever member normally projects through an opening 12S in the coin descending area of the passageway 11261. The upper end 124 has a beveled edge 126 in the path of coins falling vertically down the passageway 11211. The opposite or lower end of the lever member is arranged for engagement with lug 120 of the bifurcated configuration. A light leaf spring is secured to the front wall of each pair of fixed walls for resiliently holding each of the secondary wall members in the opening in the front wall which in turn through engagement of the lug 120 with the lower end of the lever member holds the upper end 1241 in the passageway as can readily be seen from FIGURE 20.

The operation of the upper portion 111D will also be described in connection with the sorting of dimes for the sake of simplicity, the sorting of the quarters and nickels being identically the same. Coins having diameters no larger than the diameter of an authentic dime enter the passageway 11211 at the top of the device as indicated by a broken line in FIGURE 16. The forward edge of the descending coin engages the beveled edge 126 of the levei member 12111, and the forward momentum of the coin causes the upper end 124 of the lever member 121d to move out of the passageway 1121i as shown by a broken line in FIGURE 20. This movement of the upper end 124 provides a pivoting action of the lever which moves the lower end of the lever member 1211i into the opening in the back wall member causing lug 120 to be displaced across the passageway 112d immediately above the lower end of ramp member 1151!. The displacing of lug 126 causes a swing of the complete bifurcated configuration 1 1 formed by lug 120 and wall member 118:1 so that wall member 11811 swings outwardly from opening 117:1 as shown in broken lines in both FIGURES 19 and 20.

After the descending coin clears upper end 124, the bifurcated configuration returns immediately to its passageway straddling position under the light biasing effect of spring 130, which motion in turn forces upper end 124 back into the passageway. The coin descends to the upper end of the ramp member 115:1, rolls down the upper coin engaging surface of the ramp member 115:1, and is stopped between wall member 118:1 and lug 120 at the lower end of the ramp member by stop 116:1, as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 16. As described previously in connection with weighing means 40, if the coin is at least equal to the weight of an authentic dirne, the ramp member 115d pivots under the heaviness of the coin and permits it to travel on down the passageway, again as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 16.

If the coin is lighter in weight than an authentic dime, it remains on the lower end of the ramp member 115:1 until the next coin enters the passageway 112:1. The travel of the next coin, whether authentic or spurious, again causes the bifurcated member straddling the spurious light coin at the end of the ramp member to swing out through opening 117:1 as previously described. This action pushes the spurious coin from the lower end of the ramp member and through opening 117:1 as shown at Se in FIGURE 20, the coin so rejected preferably is received by a coin return chute or similar means located at the front of the device below opening 117q, 11711, 117:1. The next coin continues its travel and is weighed in the manner described above.

It can be understood from the above description of the upper portion 110, that the need for a coin reject mechanism operable from the outside of the vending or change making machine is eliminated, the sorting device being capable itself of clearing spurious coins.

Referring now more particularly to the lower portion 111 of the coin sorting device, it can be seen from FIG- URES 17, 21, 22 and 23 that the passageways 112g, 11211, 112d, which receive, of course, only coins weighing at least as much as authentic quarters, nickels and dimes, respectively, converge into a common vertical plane. Secured to the back of the lower portion 111 are three microswitches 135g, 13511, 135:1 (see FIGURES 17, 18, 24 and 26). The microswitches 135:1, 13511, 135:1 are provided with actuating arms 136q, 13611, 136:1, respectively, having lower coin engaging ends 137:1, 137n, 137:1, projecting through openings 138g, 13811, 138:1 in the back wall member of the passageways. The coin engaging ends 137:1, 13711, 137:1 are biased into the paths of travel of coins in the passageways 112q, 11211, 112d but are movable to coin passing positions upon engagement by coins passing through the passageways. As the coin engaging end of each of the actuating arms 136:1, 13611, 136:1 is moved to the coin passing position the respective one of microswitches 135:1, 13511, 135:1 is closed. As shown in FIGURE 26, the three microswitches 135g, 13511, 135d are arranged in parallel in a single circuit, whereby the closing of any one of the microswitches energizes an electromagnet 140 provided in serie-s with the microswitches. A time limit relay 141 is provided in series with the electromagnet, the relay being of the type which includes a switch opened by the heat of a resistance. The relay 141 is provided to maintain 'the electromagnet 140 closed only for a very short time interval after the circuit is closed by one of microswitches 135q, 13511, 135:1, such as for one second. In the structure of the lower portion 111, the electromagnet 140 and relay 141 are provided at one side of the coin passageways (see FIGURES 16, 17, and 24).

The electromagnet 140 is provided to operate a coin feeler member 142. The coin feeler member includes a horizontal shaft 143 extending across the device in a plane parallel to the vertical plane including the three coin passageways in the lower portion 111, the shaft being 12 mounted in forwardly projecting lugs 144, 144 adjacent the front wall member for rotation. A lever 145 formed of magnetic material is fixed to one end of the shaft 143 and extends radially therefrom. When the shaft 143 is in a rest position as shown in FIGURE 17 the lower end of the lever hangs in front of and slightly spaced from the end of the core of the electromagnet 140. Upon energization of the electromagnet the lever 145 is attracted to the electromagnet and thereby rotates the shaft 143 through a small arc.

The shaft 143 is also provided with three radially projecting coin feeler fingers 146g, 14611, 146:1 (see FIG- URES 16, 17, 2l, 22 and 23). When the shaft is in its rest position the fingers 146:1, 14611, 146:1 extend into openings 1471], 14711, 147:1 which openings extend through the front wall of the passageways 112g, 11211, 112d, respectively. As the shaft 143 is rotated to a coin feeling position by energization of electromagnet 140, the fingers move toward a coin feeling position, the lingers being arranged with respect to the coin engaging ends of actuating arms 136g, 13611, 136:1 so as to engage the coins in the passageway at a distance just slightly greater than a distance equal to radial rim thickness r of authentic coin, age from the edge of the coin, i.c., immediately within the rim in the case of authentic quarters, nickels and dimes as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 16. Screwed in threaded bores in the back wall member immediately opposite `the free ends of the fingers 146g, 14611, 146:1 are screw members 150g, 15011, 150:1 having inner ends forming pointed prominences projecting into the passageways 12g, 11211, 11211 from the inner surface of the back wall member. Accordingly, a coin being tested is momentarily pinched near its edge between one of the fingers and the inner end of one of the screw members upon energization of electromagnet 140.

Mounted on and fixed 'to the end of shaft 143 opposite to lever 145 is radially projecting arm 151 (see FIGURE 25). A stationary microswitch 152 is mounted on the device adjacent the arm 151, the microswitch 152 having a plunger 153 arranged to be engaged by arm 151 as shaft 143 is rotated by energization of electromagnet 140 and to inturn close microswitch 152.

The microswitch 152 is arranged in series `in a circuit with a second electromagnet 154 so that electromagnet 154 is energized upon closure of microswitch 152. Electromagnet 154 is secured to the front wall member of the device below coin feeler member 142 and is provided for controlling a coin diverter means 155. The coin diverter means 155 includes a shaft 156 extending parallel to shaft 143 mounted for rotation on the back wall member of the device. Fixed to shaft 156 are three plate-like diverters 157:1, 15711, 157:1, at least diverter 15711 being formed from magnetic material. The back wall member is cut away immediately above the diverters 157q, 15711, 157:1 so that the diverters can swing into the passageways 112:1, 11211, 112:1', respectively, as shown in FIGURES 21 to 23. The diverters are balanced, however, to remain either in a diverting position or out of the passageways as shown by broken lines in FIGURE 23. Therefore, if the diverters are out of the passageway, only upon energization of electromagnet 154, which is on the outside of the `front wall member immediately opposite diverter 15711, are the diverters moved to a position for intersecting the travel of coins in the passageways, diverter 15711 being attracted towards electromagnet 154 and in turn rotating shaft 156 and the other two diverters through an arc from a coin passing position to a coin diverting position.

In operation the screw members 150:1, 15011, 150:1 are set so that the distances between their inner ends and free ends of the fingers 146:1, 14611, 146d are equal to the minimum thickness b of authentic quarters, nickels, and dimes, respectively, when the arm 151 has pushed plunger 153 to a position to close microswitch 152. Thus, when an authentic dime, for example, falls into the part of the passageway 112e! in lower position 111 it iirst closes microswitch 135d to energize electromagnet 140 which attracts lever 145. The attraction of lever 145 moves iinger 146:1 towards screw member 15ild to thereby pinch the dime immediately within its rim between the free end of iinger 146d and the pointed inner end of screw member M. Because the coin is authentic the finger is permitted to move towards the screw member a distance sufficient to cause closure of microswitch 152 by arm 151. Therefore, electromagnet 154 is energized to bring the diverters 157g, 15711, 157d into the passageways. As relay 141 opens the circuit including electromagnet 140 the coin is released by the finger 146d, falls to diverter 157d, and is directed out through the opening in back wall to an acceptable coin chute or similar means not shown. As the dime passes over diverter 1570i, it tilts the diverter means 155 back to a coin passing position.

If the coin passing down pasageway 11211 in lower portion 111 is a spurious coin or slug which has a thickness greater than the thickness b of a dime, it is tested in a manner similar to that just described. However, since the slug is thicker, the finger 1460? cannot move to a position close enough to screw member 15tld to cause closure of microswitch 152 by arm 151. Accordingly, the diverter means 155 is not brought into .action as the slug is permitted to fall past the diverter 157d and into a coin return chute or similar means, not shown.

The coins passing down passageways 112g and 11211 are tested in exactly the same manner, the tests being based, however, on the thickness b of quarters and nickels, respectively, and the authentic quarters and nickels being directed from the device by diverters 157g and 15711, respectively. As can be understood from the above, the lower portion 111 is capable of accurately mea-suring coinage since microswitches which can react to extremely small movements are available and since the measurement is amplilied by using a rela-tively long arm 151. Moreover, as in `the case of upper portion 110, the lower portion 111 requires no mechanism operable from outside of the vending or change making machine for clearing spurious coins from the machine.

The combination of the upper portion 110 and lower portion 111 performs exactly the same -tests for each denomination of coins as the apparatus shown in FIG- URE 2.

rFhe coin sorting device 160 shown in FIGURES 27 to 3l can be substituted for the upper portion 110 previously described and permits all of the coins to be inserted through a single slot. The device 160 has an initial sorting mechanism at its upper portion, the mechanism cornmencing at a single entrance slot 1611 for edgewise reception of coins of all denomations up to a quarter, for example (see particularly FIGURE 29). A ramp 162 having an upper coin engaging surface slanting downwardly from slot 161 receives the coins inserted into the slot. Spaced wall members 163, 164, which project vertically upward from the ramp and define the slot 161, define the coin passageway 166 for edgewise travel of coins over the ramp 162. The wall 164 has a lateral rib 165 projecting into the passageway 166 and extending in the direction of coin travel. The upper end 167 of the rib 165 approaching the coins travelling down the ramp slants gradually away from wall member 164 as can best be seen in FIGURE 29. The rib 165 has a lower edge 168 which is parallel to ramp 162 and is spaced therefrom a distance less than the diameter d of a quarter but more than the diameter of nickel. Thus, as a quarter, or any coin having a diameter substantially that of a quarter rolls down ramp 162, it is diverted continually away from wall member 164 by engagement of its upper edge with rib 165 until it passes over an opening 176 in ramp 162 (see FlGURE 29).

The quarter or large coin passing through opening 170 is then directed by a short ramp 171 formed on lower stationary wall member 172 into a coin weighing means 173 (see FIGURE 27) which is similar to the coin weighing means for a quarter in the upper portion of the previously described embodiment of the invention.

The passageway of the weighing means 173 is defined by the wall member 172 and a second wall member 174 pivotally connected to wall member 172 by outwardly extending aligned lugs 175, 175 resting in appropriate seats in projections on wall member 172. A weigh-ted ramp member 176 for weighing the coins is pivotally mounted on wall member 172 in the passageway. Over the lower end of ramp 176, the wall member 174 is provided with an inwardly and downwardly projecting lug 177 which forms a bifurcated configuration straddling the space above the lower end of the ramp. A lever 180 is pivotally connected to wall member 172 below wall member 174 and has a coin engaging portion 181 at its opposite end extending into the passageway through an opening near the top of wall member 174. The wall member 174 is provided with a lug 182 which projects outwardly from wall member 174 and has a lever engageable portion parallel to wall member 174 overlying the lever 180 at a point bet-Ween the ends of the lever 180. Thus, engagement of portion 181 of the lever by a coin entering the passageway of the weighing means causes lever 180 to swing outwardly away from wall member 172. Engagement of lug 182 by lever 180, as lever 180 swings outward-ly, causes wall member 174 to also swing loutwardly so that any coin stopped at the lower end of ramp member 176 is pushed from the ramp in the manner described in connection with the previous embodiment and as is illustrated in broken lines in FIGURE 30.

A second lateral rib 184 is provided immediately below and similar to rib 165, the rib 184, however, having a lower edge parallel to ramp 162 and spaced therefrom a distance less than diameter d of a nickel but more than the diameter d of a one-cent piece. The nib does not project laterally 'from Wall member 164 a dis-tance as great as rib 168, so that although nickels and other coins having a diameter greater than a one-cen-t piece and smaller than a quarter are diverted away from wall members 164, they do not 4take a path as far out from wall member 164 as quarters, i.e., nickels and coins of similar diameters pass under rib 165. A partition 185 is provided between the nickel path and the quarter opening 170. All coins diverted by rib 1814 eventually pass through an opening 186 to a coin weighing means 187 for weighing nickels similar to means 173.

Formed under rib 184 commencing at a point downwardly from its upper end is a vertical partition 190 (see particularly FIGURES 27 and 28). The vertical partition is laterally spaced from wall member 164 sufficiently to permit dimes and one-cent pieces to roll therebetween. A-t a point downwardly from the upper end of the partition 190 a lateral rib 191 is formed on the partition, on the opposite side of the partition as the path of travel of quarters and nickels, the rib having an upper end slanting away from the partition 190 and a lower edge parallel to ramp 162. The lower edge of the rib 191 is spaced above ramp 162 a distance less than the diameter of a one-cent piece and more than a dime so that onecent pieces and coins of similar diameter are diver-ted to opening 192 in ramp 162 and a dime and coins of similar diameter continue their straight path under rib 191 to opening 193. The opening 192 is spaced outwardly from partition 190 a distance equal to the lateral width of rib 191. The one-cent pieces and coins of similar diameter are passed directly to the lower portion of the device, as shown in FIGURE 28, while dimes and coins of similar diameter are passed lt-hrough a weighing means 194, which is again similar in structure to weighing means 173.

It is of course possible to utilize means such as that shown lin FIGURES 27 to 29 for sorting the coins inserted in a single slot by their diameters in conjunction with a plurality of devices such as that shown in FIG- URE 2, the coins falling through openings 170, 186 and 193 being directed to separate passageways each containing thickness measuring means similar to means 37 and a weighing means similar to means 40.

Advantages of the present invention, such as efficient sorting and simplicity of structure, are apparent from the above description which makes reference to specific examples, but it can be readily seen that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A coin sorting device for use in separating from an assortment of coins, rimmed coins having a predetermined axial rim thickness and a predetermined body thickness adjacent the rim, Isaid device comprising a pair of Wall members having opposed spaced side surfaces defining therebetween a coin passageway for edgewise travel of coins therethrough, a pawl member pivotally mounted on one of said wall members about an axis extending substantially parallel to said side surfaces and normal to the direction of travel of coins in said passageway, said pawl member having a coin engaging ledge portion and being biased to a first position with said ledge portion extending into said passageway through an opening in said one wall member, sa-id pawl member being arranged to pivot towards a second coin passing position upon engagement of a coin with said ledge portion, a projection on t-he side surface of the other wall member extending partially into said passageway opposite said axis and aligned with said pawl member, and a prominence on said pawl after said ledge portion in the direction of pivot of the pawl member towards said second position, said prominence being arranged to swing past said projection at a distance less than said axial rim thickness and greater than said body thickness.

2. A coin sorting device for use in separating authentic rimmed coins from spurious coins, the authentic coins having a predetermined radial rim thickness, a predetermined axial rim thickness, and a predetermined body thickness, immediately within the nim, said device comprising a pair of wall members having opposed side surfaces, means holding said wall members with said side surfaces normally spaced to define therebetween a substantially vertical coin passageway for edgewise travel of coins therethrough, one of said wall members having an opening therethrough communicating with said passageway, a pawl member mounted on said one of said wall members in said opening for pivotal movement from a rest position to a coin passing position about a substantially horizonal axis extending parallel to said side surfaces, a projection on the side surface of the other `wall member extending into said passageway and having an outer end spaced from the side surface of said one wal-l member a distance greater than said axial rim thickness, said projection being on the same horizontal plane as. said axis, saiid projection and pawl member being aligned on a vertical plane at substantially the centre of said vertical passageway, said -pawl member having a com engaging ledge portion extending into said passageway at a level at least equal in height to said end of s aid projection when said pawl member is in said rest pos1t1on, and a prominence formed on said pawl member and havlng an outer end above said ledge portion a distance at least as great as said radial rim thickness, the outer end of the prominence being radially spaced from said axis a distance greater than the distance between the outer end of said projection and said axis minus said radial rim thickness and a distance less than the distance between the outer end of said projection and said axis minus said coin body thickness.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said projection on the side surface of the other Wall member is formed by a pointed end of a screw member, said other wall member having a threaded opening receiving said screw member for adjustment of said screw member toward and away from said axis.

4. A device as defined in claim 2, further comprising la wall member separating means arranged for selectively increasing the spacing between opposed side surface of the wall members.

5. A device as defined in claim 2, further comprising a ram member pivotally connected to one of said .pair of Wall members about a horizontal axis extending perpendicularly with respect to said side surfaces, said ramp member being positioned in said passageway and having an upper coin engaging surface slanting from an upper end below said pawl member to a lower end of said ramp member, and a coin stop member formed on one of said pair of wall members adjacent the lower end of the ramp member, the lower end of said ramp member being arranged to pivot from a coin holding to a coin passing position in response to a predetermined weight on said lower end.

6. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said other wall member is pivotally connected to said one wall member vabout a substantially horizontal axis above said pawl member and extending parallel to said side surfaces, and further comprising actuating means arranged to swing said other wall member away from said one wall member to a spurious coin disposal position.

7. A device as defined in claim 6, further comprising a ramp member pivotally connected to said other wall member about a horizontal axis extending perpendicularly with respect to said side surfaces, said ramp member being positioned in said passageway and having an upper coil engaging surface slanting from an upper coin receiving end below said pawl member to a lower end of said ramp member, a coin stop member formed on one of said pair of wall members adjacent the lower end of the ramp member, the lower end of said ramp member being arranged to pivot downwardly from a coin holding to a coin passing position Iin response to a predetermined weight on said lower end, and a spurious coin directing ramp member fixed to said other wall member below the pivotally connected ramp member and slanting in an opposite direction to the pivotally connected ramp member, the fixed ramp member having an authentic coin passing slot below the lower end of the pivotally connected ramp member, the fixed ramp member being of sufi'icient width to substantially span the space between the side surfaces of said wall member when said other wall member is in said spurious coin disposal position.

8. A device as defined in claim 7, wherein said other wall member has an opening therethrough communicating with said passageway above the pivotally connected ramp member, and further comprising a spurious coin engaging member fixed relative to said one wall member in said opening above the pivotally connected ramp meinber, said spurious `coin engaging member being arranged to project through said opening above the pivotally connected ramp member and into the space between said pair of wall members when said other wall member is in said spurious coin disposal position.

9. A coin sorting device for use in separating a spurious coin from an authentic rimmed coin having a predetermined diameter, radial rim thickness, axial rim thickness and coin body thickness immediately within the rim, said device comprising a pair of wall members having opposed side surfaces, means holding said wall members with said side surfaces normally spaced to define therebetween a substantially vertical coin passageway for edgewise travel of coins therethrough, a first prominence on the side surface of one of said wall members extending into said passageway and having a pointed inner end, a second prominence on the side surface of the other wall member extending into passageway and having a pointed inner end, the pointed inner ends being on a common vertical plane across the passageway at substantially the middle thereof, the pointed inner end of said second prominence being spaced below the pointed inner end of said first prominence a distance slightly greater than said radial rim thickness and spaced horizontally from the pointed inner end of said first prominence a distance less than said axial rim thickness and greater than said axial rim thickness minus one-half the difference between said axial rim thickness and said body thickness.

16. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of said prominences are formed by a threaded screw member received in a threaded opening in the wall member, whereby the horizontal spacing of the pointed inner ends of the prominences may be adjusted.

lll. A device as defined in claim 9, further comprising a third prominence on said other wall member extending into said passageway, said third Iprominence having a pointed inner end vertically above the pointed inner end of said second prominence a distance slightly less than said diameter minus the radial rim thickness.

lf2. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said wall members are pivotally connected together about an axis spaced from said prominences, and further comprising actuating means for swinging one of said pair of wall members away from the other to a spurious coin disposal position.

13. A coin sor-ting device for separating spurious coins from coins of a preselected denomination, said device comprising a first substantially vertical wall member, a second wall member pivotally connected to said first wall member and biased toward said first wall member to define therebetween at least a part of a passageway for edgewise travel of coins therethrough, a ramp member in said passageway having a coin engaging upper surface slanting to a lower end of said ramp member between said wall members, said ramp member being connected to one of said wall members for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis transverse to said surface from a first coin holding position to a second coin passing position, a coin engaging stop member formed on one of said wall members adjacent the lower end of the ramp member for stopping a coin rolling down said surface at the lower end of the ramp member, means biasing said ramp member to said first position but permitting movement of said ramp member to said second posi-tion in response to the heaviness of a coin stopped at the lower end of the ramp member and having a weight greater than a predetermined amount, and a lever pivotally connected to said first wall member and having a coin engaging end portion extending into the passageway above said ramp member, said coin engaging end portion being displaceable from said passageway when engaged by a coin passing through said passageway prior to engagement of the coin with said surface, said lever having a second wall member engaging portion arranged to engage and swing said second wall member away from said first wall member as said coin engaging end portion is displaced from said passageway.

lid. A coin sorting device for separating from coins of a predetermined weight coins of less weight, said device comprising a frame including first and second, substantially vertical, spaced wall members defining therebetween a coin passageway for edgewise travel of coins therethrough, said passageway including a coin descending area above and preceding in the direction of travel of coins a coin weighing area, a ramp member in said coin weighing area having a coin engaging upper surface slanting away from the coin descending area `to a lower end of said ramp member, said ramp member being mounted on said first wall member for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel coins along said upper surface, said lower end of the ramp member being arranged to pivot from a coin holding position downwardly to a coin passing position as said ramp member pivots from a first to a second position, a Coin engaging stop member fixed to said frame for stopping coins on the lower end of said ramp member, said ramp member being biased to the first position for supporting one of the coins having a weight less than said predetermined weight on the lower end of said ramp member and in engagement with said stop member, at least a .portion of said second wall member being pivotally mounted on said frame with respect to said first wall member on an axis above the upper surface of the ramp member, said portion being arranged to swing away from said first wall member and said ramp member and having an inwardly and downwardly extending lug formed thereon and defining therewith a coin receiving bifurcated configuration straddling the passageway above the lower end of said ramp member, and a lever pivotally connected to said frame and having a coin engaging portion extending into the coin descending area, the coin engaging portion of the lever being arranged to be displaced from the passageway by travel of a coin through the coin descending area, said lever having a portion arranged to engage the pivotally mounted portion of the second wall member and to swing said portion of the second wall member away from said first wall member as said end portion of said lever is displaced from the passageway.

15. A device as defined in claim 14, wherein said pivotally mounted portion of said second wall member has lformed thereon a projection spaced outwardly from and parallel to the second wall member, said lever having the coin engaging portion at one end, being pivotally connected to the frame at the other end, and extending between the projection and the second wall member intermediate the ends thereof.

16. A device as defined in claim 14, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof on the side of said first wall member opposite to the passageway, the coin engaging portion of said lever being at one end of the lever and extending into said passageway through an opening in said first wall member, the second wall engaging portion of the lever being at the other end of the lever and extending through another opening in said first wall member and engaging said lug.

17. A coin sorting device for separating spurious coins from rimmed coins of at least two different denominations, the coins of one denomination having one diameter and the coins of the other denomination having another diameter, said device comprising a first ramp member having a coin engaging upper surface sloping downwardly from an upper level, spaced wall members .projecting vertically upward from said surface and defining at the upper level a coin entrance opening communicating with a coin passageway extending therebetween for edgewise travel of coins over said surface, one of said wall members having a lateral rib projecting into said Ipassageway and extending parallel to said surface thereabove a distance less than said one diameter and greater than said other diameter, said rib having an upper end slan-ting away from said one wall member for gradual diversion of the travel of coins of said one denomination away from said one wall member, said ramp member defining first and second coin exit openings therethrough communicating with said passageway after said upper end of said rib in -the direction of travel of the coins in said passageway, the first coin exit opening being for the exit from said passageway of coins of one denomination and spaced from said one wall a distance equal to the lateral projection of the rib into said passageway, said second exit opening being for the exit from said passageway of coins of the said other denominations and being adjacent said one wall member, lower substantially vertical wall members defining therebetween at least one lower passageway for edgewise travel of coins therethrough, said lower passageway communicating with one of said coin exit openings and being arranged to accept coins therefrom, a coin thickness gauge in said lower passageway arranged to measure the thickness of a coin immediately within the rim of the coin and permit passage of a coin having a measured thickness less than a preselected magnitude, a second ramp member in said lower passageway having a coin engaging upper surface slanting to a lower end of said second ramp member, said second ramp member being connected to one of said lower wall members for pivotal movemen-t from a coin holding to a coin passing position about a horizontal axis transverse to the travel of coins through said lower passageway, a coin engaging stop member formed on one of said lower wall members adjacent the lower end of the second ramp member for stopping a coin rolling down the surface of said second ramp member at the lower end of said second ramp member, and means biasing said second ramp member to said first position but permitting movement of said second ramp member to said second position under the heaviness of a coin having at least a predetermined weight stopped at the lower end of said second ramp member.

18. A coin sorting device for use in separating coins of different thicknesses comprising a frame including a pair of wall members having opposed side surfaces defining therebetween a coin passageway for edgewise travel of coins therethrough, first and second microswitches, said first microswitch having a coin engaging actuating arm extending into said passageway, said arm being movable in response to the coin travel from a rest position to a coin passing position, said rst microswitch being closed by movement of said arm to said coin passing position, a prominence on the side surface of one of said wall members projecting into said passageway and having a reference point defining inner end, a coin feeler member mounted on the other wall member for movement from a rest position to a coin feeling position towards said inner end of said prominence, electromagnetic means responsive to closure of said first microswitch for moving said feeler member to said coin feeling position for a time interval, means carried by said feeler member for actuating said second microswitch upon a predetermined amount of movement of said feeler member towards said inner end of said prominence, a coin diverter in said passageway in the direction of travel of the coin, said diverter being movable between a coin passing and a coin deflecting position, and second electromagnetic means responsive to the actuation of said second microswitch for moving said diverter to one of said diverter positions.

19. A coin sorting device for use in separating a spurious coin from an authentic rimmed coin having a predetermined axial rim thickness, and body thickness adjacent the rim, said device comprising a pair of wall members having opposed side surfaces defining therebetween a coin passageway for edgewise travel of coins therethrough, a first microswitch having an actuating arm extending into said passageway through a wall opening, said actuating arm being movable from a rest position to a microswitch closing position in response to coin travel in said passageway, a prominence on one of said wall members projecting into said passageway and having a pointed end spaced inwardly of the side surface of said one wall member, a coin body feeler member mounted on the other wall member opposite to said prominence for movement from a rest position to a coin body feeling position towards said pointed end of said prominence, a first electromagnetic means responsive to closure of said first microswitch for moving said feeler member towards the coin body feelin g position for a time interval, a second microswitch, means carried by said feeler member for closing said second microswitch upon movement of said feeler member to a position spaced from said pointed end of said prominence a distance less than said axial rim thickness and greater than said body thickness, a coin diverter in said passageway after said feeler member in the direction of coin travel for changing the direction of coin travel, said diverter being movable between a coin passing position and a coin defiecting position, and second electromagnetic means being responsive to closure of said second microswitch for moving said diverter to one of said positions.

20. A coin sorting device for use in separating spurious coins from authentic rimmed coins of a plurality of preselected denominations, the coins of each denomination having predetermined axial rim thickness and body thickness adjacent the rim, said device comprising a frame including a pair of wall members defining therebetween a plurality of vertical coin passageways spaced on substantially a common vertical plane, each passageway being arranged for edgewise travel therethrough of coins of one of said denominations, a plurality of coin actuated microswitches each having an actuating arm extending into an associated one of said passageways, each actuating arm being movable from a rest position to a coin passing position in response to coin travel in said associated one of said passageways, each microswitch being closed by movement of the arm thereof to the coin passing position, a plurality of prominences each located in one of the passageways on one of said wall members and having an inner end defining a reference point inwardly of said one wall member, a first horizontal shaft mounted on the other wall member and extending parallel to the common vertical plane of said passageways, a plurality of coin body feeler members of said shaft each being opposite one of said prominences, said feeler members being arranged to move towards the prominences for gripping coin bodies therebetween adjacent the coin rims as said shaft is rotated from a rest position to a coin measuring position, a first electromagnetic means responsive to closure of any one of said coin actuated microswitches for rotating said shaft to said coin measuring position, a diverter controlling microswitch mounted on said frame, an actuating arm on said first shaft arranged to engage and close said diverter controlling microswitch upon movement of each feeler member to a position spaced from the inner end of the prominence opposite thereof a distance less than the axial rim thickness and greater than said body thickness of the coin of the denomination preselected for the associated passageway, a second horizontal shaft mounted on said frame below and parallel to said first shaft, a plurality of coin diverters secured to said second shaft and each arranged to project into one of said passageways for detiecting the direction of travel of coins when said second shaft is in a coin diverting position, said second shaft being rotatable between the coin diverting position and a coin passing position, and second electromagnetic means responsive to closure of said diverter controlling microswitch for rotating said second shaft to one of said positions.

21. A device as defined in claim 20, wherein each prominence is formed by a threaded screw member received in a threaded opening in said one of said wall members, whereby the inner ends of the prominences can be adjusted towards and away from said feeler members.

22. In a coin sorting device for separating spurious coins from authentic rimmed coins of a preselected denomination, walls defining a coin passageway for edgewise travel of coins therethrough; weighing means in said passageway arranged to block passage of any coin having a weight less than the weight of the authentic coin; and means in said passageway for testing the thickness of each coin at a point radially inwardly of the periphery of the coin a distance a few thousandths of an inch greater than the radial rim thickness of the authentic coin, the testing means comprising a projection on one of said walls defining a reference point at one side of said passageway, and a coin engaging pawl member carried by another of said walls at the opposite side of said passageway as said reference point, said pawl member being pivotally mounted and arranged to swing from a rest position through a testing position and then towards a coin passing position in response to coin travel in said passageway, said pawl member having a prominence formed thereon and arranged to move, as said pawl member swings to said testing position, towards a position directly opposite said reference point and spaced there from a distance a few thousandths of an inch greater than the axial thickness of the authentic coin immediately within the rim, whereby said pawl member is prevented from swinging past said testing position to said coin passing position by engagement of said prominence with a spurious coin between said prominence and reference point inwardly from the periphery of said spurious coin a distance a few thousandths of an inch greater than the radical thickness of the authentic coin if the spurious coin has a tested thickness exceeding the axial thickness of the authentic coin immediately within the rim by more than a few thousandths of an inch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

10 STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Examiner. 

1. A COIN SORTING DEVICE FOR USE IN SEPARATING FROM AN ASSORTMENT OF COINS, RIMMED COINS HAVING A PREDETERMINED AXIAL RIM THICKNESS AND A PREDETERMINED BODY THICKNESS ADJACENT THE RIM, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A PAIR OF WALL MEMBERS HAVING OPPOSED SPACED SIDE SURFACES DEFINING THEREBETWEEN A COIN PASSAGEWAY FOR EDGEWISE TRAVEL OF COINS THERETHROUGH, A PAWL MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID WALL MEMBERS ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID SIDE SURFACES AND NORMAL TO THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF COINS IN SAID PASSAGEWAY, SAID PAWL MEMBER HAVING A COIN ENGAGING LEDGE PORTION AND BEING BIASED TO A FIRST POSITION WITH SAID LEDGE PORTION EXTENDING INTO SAID PASSAGEWAY THROUGH AN OPENING IN SAID ONE WALL MEMBER, SAID PAWL MEMBER BEING ARRANGED TO PIVOT TOWARDS A SECOND COIN PASSING POSITION UPON ENGAGEMENT OF A COIN WITH SAID LEDGE PORTION, A PROJECTION ON THE SIDE SURFACE OF THE OTHER WALL MEMBER EXTENDING PARTIALLY INTO SAID PASSAGEWAY OPPOSSITE SAID AXIS AND ALIGNED WITH SAID PAWL MEMBER, AND A PROMINENCE ON SAID PAWL AFTER SAID LEDGE PORTION IN THE DIRECTION OF PIVOT OF THE PAWL MEMBER TOWARDS SAID SECOND POSITION, SAID PROMINENCE BEING ARRANGED TO SWING PAST SAID PROJECTION AT A DISTANCE LESS THAN SAID AXIAL RIM THICKNESS AND GREATER THAN SAID BODY THICKNESS. 